Red Maple And Post Oak Lab Report

Comparing Leaf Material Decomposition of Red Maple and Post Oak in Miller’s Fork Stream.

Introduction The measurement and analysis of leaf decomposition provides crucial insight for understanding the allochthonous energy flow mechanism within a freshwater stream. Energy production within a stream heavily depends on the insertion of organic matter from stream-side vegetation, where the majority enters by “leaf fall” (Benfield 2007). These dead leaves descend into the stream and travel in correspondence with flow, eventually becoming constrained by natural structures, forming “leaf packs” to be utilized by instream communities (Benfield 2007). The remaining soluble nutrients from leaves (sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, etc.). are leached out

This interconnective energy flow of nutrients depends on the “leaf processing continuum”, where leaves decompose at varying rates due to their physical/chemical properties and stream-specific factors (Benfield 2007). This experiment focused on leaf decomposition by comparing breakdown rates between red maple (“fast processor”) and post oak (“slow processor”) species within the stream. Leaf-litter decomposition maintains the octonic ecosystem, supporting both integrity and reciprocal subsidies of the stream (Benfield 2007). The objective of this experiment was to compare breakdown of different leaf species to obtain AFDM (ash free dry mass) percentage for further analysis. We hypothesized that the “fast processing” red maple would decompose faster than the “slow processing” post oak, but that post oak would provide more sustainable energy transfer over time within the stream. Study Site Miller’s Fork is a small, headwater stream located in upstate Laurens County, South Carolina. Miller’s Fork is a first order stream, meaning that

The temperature saw an overall increase from January to March, with a positive linear slope of 0.0816. The fluctuations in temperature can be attributed to rain events, cold fronts, and other natural events. Discussion The intensity of varied temperature levels directly correlates with the stream’s capacity to perform leaf-litter breakdown. Miller’s Fork experienced a gradual increase in temperature over the course of three months, as the seasons changed from winter to spring, with varying temperature fluctuations caused by natural events (Fig.2). This gradual increase in temperature amplifies microbial activity, enhancing leaf decomposition through oxygen consumption and sulfate reduction (Trevathan-Tackett et al. 2020). The. The gradual instream temperature increase in Miller’s Fork could have experienced this phenomenon, meaning a faster upregulation in leaf decomposition. With increased temperature, leaf quality is an important factor in determining breakdown as different structural and chemical compositions of leaf species impact the processing rates (Marks 2019). The red maple and post oak leaves were influenced by increased temperature, with more significant decomposition in red maple leaves as its chemical composition is correlated with more immediate breakdown. The metabolic rates of these leaf species correlate with their nutrients being leached into